Autumn Decorating

In the two weeks since we have been home we have watched the leaves on the Flame Maple quickly change from green to a beautiful mixture of red and gold, and just as quickly fall to the ground in great clumps.  I was so glad we were able to be home to enjoy the tree in its full autumn glory.

I have been busily decorating as I try to capture that wonderful feeling of autumn crispness and color throughout the inside.

The front porch

The Entry

 

The Living Room

 

I found this new autumn scene for the wall.

 New throw pillows as well.

 

The Dining Room

 

I am still trying to decide what I want to do for a centerpiece for the table.

In another week all of the leaves from the maple will be on the ground, but I will still be able to enjoy the fall colors around the neighborhood and in the house for weeks to come.  Blessings to each one who stops by.

Adieu!

 

Starbucks!

Yesterday I took a trip into Seattle with friends and stopped in at the Starbucks Headquarters Coffee Reserve for coffee and a mid-morning treat. What a fun place with a wonderful imaginative menu of coffee delights that goes far beyond the typical selections found in your neighborhood Starbucks coffee house. Even if you are not a coffee aficionado, I would challenge anyone who stepped through these doors and  said they could not find at least one delicious beverage  to enjoy from this java giant who turned coffee into an art form around the country and then around the world.

 

 

 

As we walked through the doors we were impressed with the decor and by the spaciousness of the interior.

Coffee beans from all over the world.

 Many of the pastries and treats seemed to be baked in the large black ovens at the back of the central counter.

Almond croissants, avocado toast and a creamy pumpkin spice latte. Yum! A perfect spot to savor the flavors of Fall. May your Autumn days be just as tasty!

Adieu!

 

Home Again!

It has been a few days since we returned home from our month long stay in Georgia.  Our daughter delivered by c-section a beautiful baby girl and we stayed an extra couple of weeks to help out while she recovered.

We have returned home to a world changed from summer to autumn.
Before we left in late August we were enjoying breakfast on the deck to the sound of birds singing in the bright sunshine. Now we are waking up to the muffled sounds of early morning fog and the grass wet with heavy dew. The leaves on the maple tree are beginning to turn red and slowly drop to the ground.

This is my favorite time of year and I have been busy digging through my autumn boxes in order to transform the inside of my home to match the outside.  Pictures to come! It's good to be home.

Adieu!

A Second Wedding, a Rooster, and Apple Time

 As I have mention before, this has been a busy season for us. 

About three weeks after our son's wedding we found ourselves on a plane headed for Wisconsin to attend my youngest niece's wedding in Green Bay.  My youngest brother passed away eight years ago and between our accident and then the Covid shut downs, we had not be able to get back there since then.  It was such a joy to be able to celebrate with his family and know that if it is possible, he was smiling down on his baby girl from Heaven that day. She was a beautiful bride with a handsome groom, No swords present!

 Wisconsin is such a lovely state.  It was so nice relaxing with family on their back porches soaking in the sunshine and green spaces.  I felt like I had stepped back in time. Our four days passed by all too soon and then it was time to head for home with all of us wishing we were staying longer. Needless to say, discussions for a future family reunion are percolating.

 Another summer activity that took place between weddings was our local Lake festival.  Boat parades, carnival food and fireworks were the order of the day.  This year the town's legendary Rooster was on display.  Now many of you have seen roosters like this before, I am sure.  This guy however, has been a local landmark from way before our time living here. 

Beginning back in the 1960's he sat atop of the local Chicken Drive- in restaurant,a favorite place for the local teens to visit after school.  One year for a senior prank, a group of high school students removed him from the roof in the middle of the night and hid him for a few days before parading him around the Senior end of the year events.  Thus, (with the permission of the owner) history was made. From that time forward, every senior class would "steal" the rooster and display him in some way at the annual homecoming game and end of the year events. The tradition lasted many years until the chicken restaurant was finally closed down to make way for a new shopping area. From time to time, he still makes a public appearance. The Rooster will always be regarded with great affection by the locals who grew up here in the community. 

 

 

End of summer has also brought an early harvest of apples from our Gravenstein tree.  Nature waits for no man and apples have been coming whether we were ready or not.  It was a bumper crop this year. When we returned from Wisconsin we found that one of our daughter in laws had come over with our granddaughters to pick a laundry basket full of apples for applesauce.  Even so, there were hundreds of apples on the ground!There was a major heatwave while we were gone and they all ripened at the same time in just a matter of days.

We picked two more laundry baskets full of apples for my DIL and two large wicker baskets full for my mother to make applesauce as well.  I kept one small basket for myself.

Naturally, I had to bake some apple muffins! I tried a new recipe which I found Here.  Delicious!

 

  What better way to start a quiet morning than with a nice cup of coffee, fresh baked muffins and an interesting book.

In a month, there will be more apples from our second tree which will be made into apple pies, apple crumble and of course, more muffins! Yum!

The pears are almost ready to harvest as well.

However, we will be leaving those to the kids and grandkids this year as we are turning our thoughts towards Georgia and the upcoming birth of our newest grandchild who is due any time now.  We will be flying out tomorrow and staying for as long as we are needed. When we return, in a few weeks, summer will be waning, and it will be time to start looking forward to the colors of Autumn.  May the Lord bless and keep you until we visit together again upon our return.

Adieu!